The University of Virginia will celebrate its 194th Finals Weekend May 19 through May 21, awarding 7,872 degrees.
Festivities begin on Friday, May 19. At noon in Old Cabell Hall auditorium, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David G. Bassett, director of the Defense Contract Management Agency, will speak at the Joint Commissioning Exercises for Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force ROTC candidates. Bassett, a double Hoo, attended UVA as an Army ROTC cadet and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and later a master’s degree in computer science.
Then, at 3 p.m., philanthropist and UVA alumna Jacqueline Novogratz will deliver remarks during Valedictory Exercises at John Paul Jones Arena. The ceremony will feature the presentation of the class gift as well as University and Class of 2023 awards. Tickets are not required and this ceremony is open to the public.
At 6 p.m., the Office of African-American Affairs will sponsor the Donning of the Kente Ceremony at Old Cabell Hall Auditorium. Tickets are required.
At Final Exercises on Saturday, May 20, students in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will receive nearly 3,200 degrees. They will begin their procession down the Lawn at 9 a.m. UVA athletic director Carla Williams will address the graduates.
Also, at 10 a.m., the School of Education and Human Development’s Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will take place at the Abbott Center Auditorium at the Darden School of Business.
The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy Academic Regalia Ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. at James Monroe’s Highland. The severe weather site is Old Cabell Hall Auditorium at 6 p.m.
Final Exercises for all other schools (excluding Arts & Sciences) will take place on Sunday, May 21, with the procession starting at 9 a.m. The University will award approximately 4,700 degrees on Sunday. Architectural historian and Vice Provost for Academic Outreach Louis P. Nelson will address these graduates.
The schools featured at the ceremony will be:
- Darden School of Graduate Business Administration.
- Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
- McIntire School of Commerce.
- School of Architecture.
- School of Continuing & Professional Studies.
- School of Data Science.
- School of Education and Human Development.
- School of Engineering & Applied Science.
- School of Law.
- School of Medicine.
- School of Nursing.
Saturday’s and Sunday’s ceremonies will take place on the Lawn, with John Paul Jones Arena serving as the severe weather site. Following the main graduation ceremony, individual schools and departments will have graduation ceremonies across Grounds.
For Valedictory Exercises and both Final Exercises ceremonies, the University has implemented a clear bag policy and will utilize metal detectors at entrance points. These safety and security measures are similar to those implemented for athletic and other large University events at Scott Stadium and John Paul Jones Arena.
